My New Offset Designs: Artemis & Apollo - Builds Coming

[gishuk]

This is a really well executed design, the bevel version especially. Its nailed that thing of being a new shape while still somehow looking like its existed for a long time and isnt different for the sake of it which is hard to do. Love it!

[fever606]

This thing has been giving me the night sweats since you posted this thread... the combination of the bevels with the angularity of the lower bout and the pairing of a P90 and minihumbucker (I'm assuming... maybe it's a Firebird pickup?) is just right up my alley. And on a short(er) scale? Oh mannnnn...

[JSett]

The Mastery MV would suit this shape extremely well. I agree with Rob & fever606 that the bevelled one is fucking killer.

I personally think you should stick with the 6-a-side headstock as it's tried and true for tuning stability over the 3-per-side - and I think it suits the shape better. The headstock shape you have on that black one is cool.

But that's just my personal taste/opinion

[Gordon]

Opal acrylic pickguard ready to go!
I used the same material for the oversized 12th fret inlay (shown earlier).
https://i.imgur.com/Zfl3Trs.jpeg

I have the same material on my Tele, and I love how it catches the light!

[Gordon]

One question though: will you keep the JM trem as is, or will you have plates made to mirror/mimic the trapezoidal one you did for the Tele bridge?

[ThePearDream]

Thanks again everybody!

So, as far as scales and headstock shapes go, anything goes (except Fender headstocks). Once I'm able to build these for others, I will be able to make either Artemis or Apollo in various scale lengths and in either headstock configuration (and I can actually make Artemis in 24" as well). The first few Apollo will use my 3X3 design though, so I can try it out. It should yield a straight string pull, so I don't anticipate any tuning issues.

As for the moving parts, I would like to be as agnostic in regards to hardware as I am to pickups. I've looked into different shapes for the vibrato plate, but haven't found any way to improve it enough, to make it worth limiting my options.

FWIW, here's an old mock-up of an Apollo with a MV vibrato (and 3X3 headstock).


Also, just putting it out there to the universe that I would like to get ahold of some old Peavey T60 pickups to go into a chambered ash Apollo.

[marqueemoon]

I’m not feeling that particular 3x3 headstock.

I also prefer 6 in line with these. Something Kay or Teisco-inspired maybe?

[Fiddy]

I think that a Martin acoustic style headstock would look great on that guitar..

[CROSS_guitars]

How do the Wilkinson Mini humbuckers sound? I just bought one and I'm keen to know how good they are.

[tequila_in_teacups]

The bevelled one reminds me a little of this Baranik (in a good way):
https://www.baranikguitars.com/pageb1

[Gordon]

I've looked into different shapes for the vibrato plate, but haven't found any way to improve it enough, to make it worth limiting my options.

This is what I had in mind (excuse the crude PhotoShop):

[ThePearDream]

How do the Wilkinson Mini humbuckers sound? I just bought one and I'm keen to know how good they are.

It seems to be pretty good for the price. It definitely has some high end to it. The middle position is great with the P90 mixed in. I don't have any "proper" firebird pickups to compare to though. My only gripe is with the branding on the cover.

---

The bevelled one reminds me a little of this Baranik (in a good way):
https://www.baranikguitars.com/pageb1

Ooh that is super cool. And it has a really interesting approach to a 3X3 headstock.

---
I know how particular people are about headstock designs. I am too. For me the original Jazzmaster and strat headstocks are the gold standard and all CBS headstocks are trash.

Now, I'm not married to this 3X3 version, but it does meet some very specific criteria that I set at the beginning. First, it has to have a straight string pull if it has a vibrato, no exceptions. Second, in the interest of conserving resources, I decided it had to be able to be made from a 3" wide board, rather than a typical 4" wide board that then has 95% of the extra inch thrown away (Artemis uses a 3.5"W board). This is what I've settled on for now. The first few neck blanks are already prepped and ready for truss rods, so I will be moving forward as planned. I am going to wait to evaulate the design until it is made and has strings on it, just like I did with the rejected prototype bodies that I was excited about. I will still keep exploring other options for down the road though.

[Shadoweclipse13]

I like the 3×3 head design a lot!!

[LVC]

I Think it looks great too and complements the body shape very well.

[ThePearDream]

Artemis 1 ready for carving. More easy sanding with no tight corners or acute angles. That's a Royal Blackwood fretboard, which is a torrefied Purpleheart product.


You guys like short scales too right?

Here's a 24" Artemis with Firebird pickups and a crap ton of switches


And a 24" Simetra with humbuggies in the SG positions